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Section II – Analysis of Program Activities by Strategic Outcome

2.1 Strategic Outcome - An Independent and Efficient Federal Judiciary.

The following section describes the program activities of the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs and identifies the expected results, performance indicators and targets for each of them. This section also explains how the department plans on meeting the expected results and presents the financial and non-financial resources that will be dedicated to each program activity.

This section contains a discussion of plans surrounding the following Program Activities:

2.1.1 Program Activity: Payments Pursuant to the Judges Act

 


Program Activity: Payments Pursuant to the Judges Act
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
FTEs Planned Spending FTEs Planned Spending FTEs Planned Spending
0 $436,839,000 0 $451,869,000 0 $452,069,000


Program Activity Expected Results Performance Indicators Targets
Accurate and timely processing and validation of claims received for reimbursement of expenses in compliance with the Judges Act and internal guidelines governing financial management. Percentage of expense claims processed and validated for entry into tracking system.
Percentage of expense claims processed within service standard.
100% of expense claims compliant with Judges Act and departmental policies and guidelines.
90% of claims processed within service standard.
Comprehensive, up-to-date and validated files are kept on all judges and their survivors. Percentage of judges satisfied with services. 80% of judges satisfied with services.
Efficient and effective administration of Judges' compensation and benefits programs and processes. Percentage of compensation and benefits claims processed within service standard. 90% of compensation and benefits claims processed within service standard.


Program Activity Summary: This program activity provides for the payments of salaries, allowances and annuities to federally appointed judges, and their survivors, in the Superior Trial Courts and Courts of Appeal in Canada.

The number of judges is not included in the FTE count for the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs. The number of judicial positions is identified in the Judges Act. As of January 1, 2010 there were 1,066 federally appointed judges in Canada and there were 806 pensioners receiving a pension pursuant to the Judges Act.

Planning Highlights: In order to achieve the expected results, the department will dedicate the required resources to ensure that federally appointed judges are provided with the highest level of service available. A client satisfaction survey was recently completed which has assisted the department in determining and benchmarking the current level of satisfaction of the judges.

2.1.2 Program Activity: Canadian Judicial Council


Program Activity: Canadian Judicial Council
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
FTEs Planned Spending FTEs Planned Spending FTEs Planned Spending
11 $1,697,700 11 $1,698,362 11 $1,698,362


Program Activity Expected Results Performance Indicators Targets
Effective functioning of Canadian Judicial Council committees. Percentage of CJC members satisfied with the administration and support of their committees. 80% of members satisfied with secretariat support provided.

Program Activity Summary: Provide integrated support (administrative, secretariat, policy and legal research and advice) to the Council in support of its statutory mandate to foster the better administration of justice in Canada and serve as the body that oversees judicial conduct.

The role of the Canadian Judicial Council is to support the Council, its committees and its members in their carrying out of the Council's mandate. Such support includes providing advice, the implementation of decisions taken, and such administrative and executory functions as necessary for the efficient and effective execution of the mandate.

Planning Highlights: In order to achieve the expected results, the department will be reviewing the structure of the secretariat serving the members of the Canadian Judicial Council to ensure that adequate and proper resources are in place. Once the review has been completed, a Treasury Board Submission may be required to deal with the results of this exercise.

2.1.3 Program Activity: Federal Judicial Affairs



Program Activity: Federal Judicial Affairs
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
FTEs Planned Spending FTEs Planned Spending FTEs Planned Spending
54 $7,970,286 54 $8,181,124 54 $7,680,680


Program Activity Expected Results Performance Indicators Targets
Timely and accurate administration of the Order-in-Council process. Percentage of Order-in-Councils submissions prepared within service standards. 90% of submissions prepared within service standard.
Access to a trusted and reliable email and collaboration tool.

Percentage of time core system available to users.

Percentage of judges satisfied with system.

Core systems available 98% of time on an annual basis.

75% of judges satisfied with system.

Federally appointed judges have access to timely, high-quality, and cost effective language training services. Waiting time for judges to access training services. 90% of judges have access to language assessment and training services within service standard.
Timely, accurate and bilingual publishing of selected Federal Courts decisions.

Percentage of selected cases published within 10 months of the issuance of the decision.

Number of Parts published per year.

90% of selected cases are published within 10 months of the date of issuance of the decision.

12 Parts published per year.

Fair and expeditious administration of the Judicial Appointments process. Percentage of applications screened and referred to Advisory Committees in a timely manner. 95% of applications reviewed and verified within service standard.


Program Activity Summary: These FTE's represent employees of the department who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the department and to provide administrative services to federally appointed judges including language training, publishing of the Federal Courts Reports, and services to the Minister of Justice through the Judicial Appointments Secretariat. They also provide support to the judiciary in the areas of finance, human resources, administration and information management.

Planning Highlights: In order to achieve the expected results, a review of the existing Information Management systems will be undertaken with the objective of determining the best way to update the existing systems so that they are using current technologies.

During the course of the planning year, half of the existing Judicial Appointments Committees will have new members. Training of these new members will be undertaken to ensure that they are familiar with the process.

A survey of Federal Courts Reports users is contemplated. The results will be used, inter alia, to measure satisfaction with the product, to assess the needs of clients and to plan and deliver service improvements.

 

2.1.4 Program Activity: Internal Services



Program Activity: Internal Services
Human Resources (FTEs) and Planned Spending ($ millions)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
FTEs Planned Spending FTEs Planned Spending FTEs Planned Spending
8 $869,700 8 $869,700 8 $869,700


Program Activity Expected Results Performance Indicators Targets
Resources are allocated and expended in a cost effective manner in accordance with the department's Strategic Plan. Departmental lapse of resources. Annual budgetary lapse under 5%.
Department successfully attracts and retains the right people at the right time to meet its current and future business needs.

Percentage of staff and management satisfied with Human Resource Services.

80% of staff and management are satisfied with the Human Resource Services.

A model workplace. Percentage of staff satisfied with the organization. 80% of staff are satisfied with the organization.
Information technology tools are available to meet departmental needs.

Percentage of time the systems are available to users.

Core systems available 98% of the time on an annual basis.



Program Activity Summary and Planning Highlights:

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of the organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Material Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across the organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

 

Results for Canadians: Under the Canadian Constitution, the judiciary is independent from the executive and legislative branches of government. Judicial independence is intended to ensure that judges make decisions free of influence, based solely on the facts and the law. Once appointed, a judge is eligible to serve on the bench until retirement (age 75 for federally appointed judges). Judges must also receive adequate remuneration in such a manner that does not leave them in a position of dependence or subject to pressure. In Canada, governments cannot change judges' salaries or benefits or remove judges from office without going through an appropriate, independent procedure.